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EARSHOT JAZZFebruary 2016 Vol. 32, No. 2

Seattle, WashingtonA Mirror and Focus for the Jazz Community

Stuart DempsterPhoto by Daniel Sheehan

2 • Earshot Jazz • February 2016

And, man, it is so strong!A trip to New York in January of-

fers clear evidence of how brilliant and multi-faceted jazz has become, and how inextricably linked it is to America’s most vibrant city. The indisputable center of the jazz uni-verse, even in the normal course of life, New York’s jazz scene abso-lutely explodes for two weeks each winter. Between hundreds of the artist showcases for the annual As-sociation for Performing Arts Pre-senters (APAP) and Chamber Music America (CMA) conferences go-ing on around the city, the massive NYC Winter Jazzfest blitzing a doz-en Village locations over one week-end, and the two-day Jazz Connect conference in mid-town Manhat-tan, any prevailing arguments about jazz being in perilous times are eas-ily forgotten. And, as always, Seattle artists and industry folks are promi-nent in the mix.

Earshot founder Paul de Barros was on the Winter Jazzfest scene, and filed a great overview of Seattle jazz artists in the NYC WJF for the January 18 Seattle Times. The en-tire staff of Seattle’s Origin Records was working the floor of the global Jazz Connect conference at St. Pe-ter’s “jazz church” on Lexington Ave, just down the street from the site of the late lamented JazzTimes conference. And one of the featured showcases of this year’s APAP con-ferences, which draws thousands of arts professionals from around the

world, was a performance of Seattle trumpeter Aham Oluo’s “Now I’m Fine,” which features Seattle art-ists Samantha Boshnack, D’Vonne Lewis, Evan Flory-Barnes, and oth-ers.

And, of course, Earshot Jazz was on the scene as well. It has been my pleasure to host one of the WJF stag-es since the festival’s inception at the Knitting Factory, 12 years ago. This year, between the performances at my stage (The New School’s 12th St Auditorium) and other concerts I saw around the city in and out of WJF, I was fortunate to hear 25 performances by top jazz veterans and exciting emerging artists. Ear-shot writer/production manager and Seattle jazz saxophonist Levi Gillis was also deep in the mix, gathering ideas and perspectives from several Seattle/NYC jazz artists.

But jazz is alive and thriving on both coasts! You can get a taste of this exciting breadth of creative ex-pression this month as Earshot hosts compelling concerts – February 11, 16, 20, and 26 – by Seattle’s In-dustrial Revelation, the compelling New York trio of the drummer Ches Smith, the return of the masterful bassist Gary Peacock’s trio, and the soul-warming music of Brian Blade’s Fellowship Band.

This issue of “listener-supported” Earshot Jazz has all of the details, and much more. We look forward to seeing you out there. And thanks!

– John Gilbreath

Letter from the DirectorAs Goes New York…So Goes Jazz

m i S S i o n S t a t e m e n tEarshot Jazz is a non-profit arts and service organization formed in 1984 to cultivate a support system for jazz in the community and to increase awareness of jazz. Earshot Jazz pursues its mission through publishing a monthly newsletter, presenting creative music, providing educational programs, identifying and filling career needs for jazz artists, increasing listenership, augmenting and complementing existing services and programs, and networking with the national and international jazz community.

earShot JazzA Mirror and Focus for the Jazz Community

Executive Director John GilbreathManaging Director Karen CaropepeProgram Manager Caitlin Peterkin

Earshot Jazz Editors Schraepfer Harvey, Caitlin Peterkin

Contributing Writers Tarik Abouzied, Halynn Blanchard, Edan Krolewicz, Andrew Luthringer, Jean Mishler

Calendar Editor Caitlin PeterkinCalendar Volunteer Soohye JangPhotography Daniel SheehanLayout Caitlin PeterkinDistribution Karen Caropepe & Earshot Jazz volunteers

send Calendar Information to:3429 Fremont Place N, #309 Seattle, WA 98103 email / [email protected]

Board of Directors Ruby Smith Love (president), Sue Coliton (vice president), Sally Nichols (secretary), John W. Comerford, Chris Icasiano, Danielle Leigh, Hideo Makihara, Diane Wah, Viren Kamdar Emeritus Board Members Clarence Acox, Kenneth W. Masters, Lola Pedrini, Paul Toliver, Cuong Vu

Founded in 1984 by Paul de Barros, Gary Bannister, and Allen Youngblood. Earshot Jazz is published monthly by Earshot Jazz Society of Seattle and is available online at www.earshot.org.

subscription (with membership): $35 3429 Fremont Place #309Seattle, WA 98103phone / (206) 547-6763

Earshot Jazz ISSN 1077-0984Printed by Pacific Publishing Company © 2016 Earshot Jazz Society of Seattle

February 2016 • Earshot Jazz • 3

oneBeat artist applicationsOneBeat is now accepting artist ap-

plications for its 2016 program. One-Beat brings musicians (ages 19-35) from around the world to the U.S. for one month each fall to collaboratively write, produce, and perform original music, and develop strategies for arts-based social engagement. Applications are due February 5.

Now in its fifth year, OneBeat is cultivating a groundbreaking inter-national network of leading artistic, technological, and social innovators in music. For more information on One-Beat, and how to apply for its artist program, visit 1beat.org.

Seattle-Kobe female Jazz Vocalist auditions

The Seattle-Kobe Sister City Asso-ciation sends one high school-aged and one adult female jazz vocalist from Greater Seattle to Kobe, Japan, in May 2016. Finalists are selected

by late February and participate in a live audition at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley on Monday, March 28. Two winners feature as guest vocalists at the 17th Annual Kobe Shinkaichi Jazz Vocal Queen Contest held in early May, in Seattle’s sister city, Kobe, Japan. Appli-cation deadline is February 6. More at seattlekobe.org.

Seattle office of arts & culture Youth arts Projects

Youth Arts is an annual funding pro-gram for arts education, beyond the regular school day, for Seattle middle and high school youth. Funds and technical assistance from this program help experienced teaching artists lead training programs and projects in all arts disciplines – from visual arts to theater to dance and film. Youth Arts prioritizes youth or communities with limited or no access to the arts. Fund-

harold Wayne thompson: 1936-2016

Harold Wayne Thompson, the cel-ebrated writer and 2015 Portland Jazz Master, passed away January 10, 2016, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Port-land, Oregon, at the age of 79. Thomp-son, an indefatigable jazz warrior and lifelong jazz advocate, was an original member of the Jazz Journalist Asso-ciation, and honored by his esteemed colleagues as their 2014 Jazz Hero. He was a freelance jazz writer who wrote album notes for several major record labels; an editor/publisher for Jazz So-ciety of Oregon’s Jazzscene Magazine from 1987-2006; and TIME Magazine correspondent for Oregon from 1973-

1981. A Portland Trail Blazers enthu-siast, Thompson served as beat writer for The Oregonian, and authored the book BlazerMania: This Is Our Story. “Wayne was such a professional, intel-ligent, and passionate guy filled with kindness,” says PDX Jazz President Joe Maita. “Portland was so lucky to expe-rience his presence, and we were very fortunate to have his counsel.”

Save KPLU campaign LaunchesA fundraising campaign, led by

KPLU itself, has launched, after Pa-cific Lutheran University announced it was selling the radio station to KUOW back in November. In order to “Save KPLU,” the community needs

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ProfiLe

stuArt demPster Photo by dAnette dAvis

Stuart Dempster: Putting the “Play” Back into Playing MusicBy Andrew Luthringer

The Seattle area has no shortage of exceptional musicians and compos-ers, spanning many genres, who have made compelling contributions to the artistic life of the region and beyond. But a shortlist for the very top echelon of achievers must surely include Stuart Dempster.

Even a succinct summary of Demp-ster’s accomplishments – spanning contemporary improvisation, extend-ed instrumental techniques, global experimentalism, and cutting-edge compositional commissions, across the realms of education, performance, and recording – could still comprise a full-length documentary.

Dempster’s résumé includes big band jazz and a stint as principal trombonist in the Oakland Symphony. His perfor-mance journey includes crossed paths and collaborations with many icons of the 20th century experimental and “new music” scenes: John Cage, Merce Cunningham, Lou Harrison, Pauline Oliveros, and Terry Riley (Dempster participated in the 1968 recording of Riley’s seminal monument of mini-malism, In C). He also was inducted into the Seattle Jazz Hall of Fame in 2009.

His influence as an educator is also broad and deep. Since 1968, he has been on the faculty of University of Washington, and his book The Mod-ern Trombone: A Definition of Its Idi-oms is an unparalleled bible for play-ers, an indispensable treasure trove of information on the instrument’s capa-bilities, including extended techniques and “Theatrical Implications.”


For all his accomplishments, what is most singular about Dempster is his ability to connect with listeners and find the elemental joy and wonder in musical communication. With a twin-kle in his eye, he can easily transfix an audience with nothing more than a conch shell.

I recently spent time with Dempster at his home, and while he was simulta-neously making tea, rustling through sheet music, telling stories (in multiple accents), and generally being charm-ing and funny, he spoke further about the notion of music as play, and why it’s a worthwhile goal to let humor and warmth come through.

“My motto is put the ‘play’ back into playing music. … There’s always that mentality that, ‘Oh, if you’re funny, you can’t be serious!’ and ‘You’re seri-ous? Well, then you can’t be funny!’”

Dempster’s sly smile and sense of mirth belies his belief that you can be serious, you can even be somber, but there should still be an element of joy and humor in that audience connec-tion.

“Something that’s interested me so much in my own career is that if I’m not having a good time, the audience isn’t either. And a lot of that is trusting the audience.”

“I like to say that my music is the best when it’s equally appealing and appall-ing [laughs]. …That’s my favorite place to be. And the same balance between seriousness and humor – if I get right on that edge, then I feel very good about that.”

Dempster’s role as an educator and mentor colors his ideas about musical life as well. He shared an impactful story of when, as a high school stu-dent, he met early jazz trombone leg-end Kid Ory:

“I knew he was some kind of a signif-icant figure, but little did I know then that he was in on the birth of jazz; that knowledge came later. I could feel a special presence, however, in his de-

meanor and support of us young ‘uns, and look back on that ever so brief meeting with fondness and respect. I still feel that deeply…”

Dempster’s supportive and nurtur-ing presence is felt similarly deeply by generations of musicians in the Pacific Northwest, and his upcoming Cornish College of the Arts residency (and de facto 80th birthday celebration) called StuART Fest will be a chance to ex-plore and celebrate his contributions. Cornish faculty member and French horn virtuoso Tom Varner, whose Creative Ensemble student group will tackle Dempster’s composition Mi-landa Embracing, had this to say of Dempster: “His humility, humor, gen-erosity, and artistry made me think, ‘I want to be this guy when I grow up!’”

Described as a “special event honor-ing some of Cornish’s past and pres-ent, and a look into the future,” Stu-ART Fest will also feature Dempster in improvisational duos with Janice Giteck, William O. Smith, and fellow trombone legend Julian Priester, as well as a solo piece performed by flau-tist Paul Taub.

Any chance to see the local treasure Stuart Dempster is not to be missed. It may be hilarious, it may be sublime – it’s “play” time that will teach you about the joys of shared silence, listen-ing, and human emotion – and that’s always time well spent.

stuart Fest @ Cornish

February 6, 8pmPONCHO Concert Hall, Kerry Hall710 E Roy St (Capitol Hill)

$20 General / $15 Seniors / $10 Students (w/ ID) / $5 Teen Tix

Visit cornish.edu for tickets and more information.

PLUS: Master Class w/ Stuart DempsterFebruary 2, 1pm, PONCHO Concert HallFree & open to the public


GoLDen ear aWarDS

2015 Golden Ear Awards BallotCast your ballot by March 10

Each year, the Golden Ear Awards recognize and celebrate the outstanding achievements of the previous year in Seattle jazz. In the process, Seattle jazz fans and performers can take stock of and show gratitude for the region’s vibrant jazz ecology. The awards are determined by a combination of nominations and popu-lar vote. Nominees this year were selected by a poll of Earshot Jazz readers, jazz performers, audience members, journalists, and industry professionals. There are eight Golden Ear Award categories, including induction into the Seattle Jazz Hall of Fame.

Please vote online at earshot.org, by email to [email protected], or mail your selections to Earshot Jazz, 3429 Fremont Pl. N., #309, Seattle, WA 98103, by March 10.

2015 nW recording of the Year• Eugenie Jones, Come Out

Swingin’• Gregg Belisle- Chi, Tenebrae• Industrial Revelation, Liberation &

the Kingdom of Nri• Rik Wright’s Fundamental Forces,

Green• Wayne Horvitz, Some Places Are

Forever Afternoon• Other

_________________________

2015 nW acoustic ensemble• 200 Trio• Dawn Clement/Mark Taylor’s

“Line Up”• Jacob Zimmerman Quintet• Jovino Santos Neto Quinteto• The Westerlies• Other

_________________________

2015 nW alternative Group• Andy Clausen’s Shutter Project• Comfort Food• Happy Orchestra• Industrial Revelation• Picoso

• Other _________________________

2015 nW emerging artist• 200 Trio• Birch Pereira• Gregg Belisle- Chi• Ray Larsen• Other

_________________________

2015 nW instrumentalist of the Year• Dawn Clement• James DeJoie• Kareem Kandi• Mark Ivester• Randy Halberstadt• Other

_________________________

2015 nW Vocalist of the Year• Carrie Wicks• Eugenie Jones• Grace Love• Johnaye Kendrick• Kate Voss• Other

_________________________

2015 nW concert of the Year• Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra

w/ Anat Cohen, Feb. 21-22• Tribute to Ornette Coleman:

Action Figure & Focus on Sanity, The Royal Room, Oct. 13

• Ted Poor Quartet, Meany Studio Theater (UW), Oct. 15

• Tomeka Reid, Nicole Mitchell, Mike Reed, Chapel Performance Space, Oct. 23

• Seattle Symphony w/ Bill Frisell, Shaprece, & Derek Bermel w/ Roosevelt HS Jazz Band, Benaroya Hall, Oct. 29

• Other _________________________

2015 Seattle Jazz hall of fameFor a list of Seattle Jazz Hall of Famers, go to earshot.org/hall-of-fame/• Gregg Keplinger• Randy Halberstadt• Ruby Bishop• Skerik• Sonny Booker• Other

_________________________

You’re Invited!

Join us Tuesday, March 15, at The Royal Room in Columbia City for the Golden Ear Awards Cer-emony. Eugenie Jones and her band get the night going at 7pm, with the awards ceremony begin-ning at 8pm.We look forward to seeing you there!


Thursday, February 18, 7:30pm, Edmonds Center for the Arts Saturday, February 20, 7:30pm, Benaroya Hall Sunday, February 21, 2pm, Kirkland Performance Center

Terell Stafford, celebrated jazz trum-peter, will join the award-winning Se-attle Repertory Jazz Orchestra (SRJO) in its February concerts. Stafford will lead the band and play as the featured soloist on a variety of his favorite piec-es for jazz ensemble, including great works by Gil Evans, Freddie Hubbard, and Chick Corea.

A veteran of dozens of critically ac-claimed recordings (including six as a leader), Stafford became nationally known during his many years touring and recording with Bobby Watson’s quintet “Horizon,” plus numerous per-formances with Herbie Mann, Shirley Scott, and Kenny Barron. Stafford has been hailed by piano legend McCoy Tyner as “one of the great players of our time, a fabulous trumpet player.” He has also performed and recorded with the Benny Golson Sextet, the McCoy Tyner Sextet, the Jimmy Heath Quin-tet and Big Band, the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, and the Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Alumni Band. Concert selec-tions include jazz standards “Blame It on My Youth,” “Candy,” and “I’ll Close My Eyes,” plus original works written by Stafford.

Single tickets are $48 for the con-certs at Benaroya Hall and the Kirk-land Performance Center, and $35 for the concerts at Edmonds Center for the Arts. Discounts are available on single-ticket sales to seniors, students, and groups. Most SRJO concerts sell

out, so advance purchase is highly rec-ommended. In a special effort to en-courage attendance by young people at SRJO subscription series concerts, the SRJO offers tickets for all jazz fans ages 25 and under at $15 (for all seats in the house).

Now celebrating its 21st concert sea-son, the 17-piece SRJO is co-directed by saxophonist and arranger Michael Brockman, long-time faculty mem-ber of the UW School of Music and an authority on the music of Duke Ellington, and drummer Clarence Acox, award-winning conductor of the Garfield High School bands. SRJO in-cludes many of the region’s best-loved jazz soloists and band leaders: trum-peters Jay Thomas and Thomas Mar-riott; bassist Phil Sparks; saxophon-ists Bill Ramsay, Travis Ranney, Alex Dugdale, and Mark Taylor; trombon-

ists Dan Marcus, Scott Brown, and Bill Anthony; and pianist Randy Hal-berstadt.

The ensemble is the recipient of nu-merous awards, including Golden Ear Awards from Earshot Jazz for “Best Acoustic Jazz Group” and “Concert of the Year,” and two “Starlight Awards” from the Kirkland Performance Cen-ter. Several members of the all-star group have been named to the Seattle Jazz Hall of Fame, with bassist Phil Sparks most recently inducted at the 2009 Golden Ear Awards. SRJO’s newest compact disc, Kansas City Suite, released in 2014 has met with both popular and critical acclaim, and will go into its second pressing during the coming months.

For tickets and more information, visit srjo.org or call (206) 523-6159.

– Ed., courtesy of SRJO

terell stAfford Photo by Andrew lePley

PreVieW >>Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra Welcomes Terell Stafford in Three Concerts


February 18-28 Various venues, Portland, OR

The Portland metro area is set to host 100 jazz events in over a dozen venues for the 13th annual PDX Jazz Festi-val this February. Running Thursday, February 18, through Sunday, Febru-ary 28, the festival commemorates the 90th birthday of John Coltrane and his musical influence.

The festival features five-time Gram-my Award-winner Dianne Reeves, and a handful of headlining saxo-phonists including Charles Lloyd, Gary Bartz, Sonny Fortune, James Carter, and Grammy Award-winning saxophonist, bandleader, and com-poser Ravi Coltrane. Other featured musicians include the multi-Grammy-winning Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Gary Peacock, Sullivan Fortner, 2014 Monk Competition Winner Marquis Hill, and vocalist Alicia Olatuja.

Executive Artistic Director Don Lu-coff explains that this will be the first themed PDX Jazz Festival since 2011.

“I can’t think of a more fitting figure than John Coltrane, who transcends jazz music and serves as a guiding in-fluence for so many human beings in their daily lives,” he says. “Through the ensuing generations, Coltrane has served as a cultural touchstone, and it’s an honor to have his son, Ravi Col-trane, represent his cherished legacy.”

Two centerpiece performances high-light Ravi Coltrane, whose 20-plus year career has led him to work be-side greats including McCoy Tyner, Jack DeJohnette, Elvin Jones, Pharoah Sanders, Herbie Hancock, and Fly-ing Lotus. In his self-directed event Universal Consciousness, Coltrane will pay tribute to his mother Alice Col-trane with bassist Reggie Workman, pianist Geri Allen, harpist Brandee Younger, and drummer Andrew Cy-rille.

On Friday, February 26, John Col-trane’s eighth studio album Africa Brass will come into focus in a concert under the direction of Portland Jazz Master Charles Gray, with featured solos by Ravi Coltrane. Gray has se-

PreVieW >>PDX Jazz Festival 2016

AliCiA olAtujA Photo Courtesy of Artist


lected an ensemble of Portland’s finest musi-cians and unusual in-strumentation to share the stage with Coltrane and pianist Orrin Ev-ans. The rare material of this event will be pre-sented for only the sec-ond time in U.S. histo-ry, according to Lucoff.

Coltrane’s work will additionally be reflected in special tribute proj-ects: Gary Bartz’s Col-trane Rules; Javon Jack-son/Jimmy Cobb in WE FOUR; Olé Coltrane featuring the Bobby Torres Ensemble with Azar Lawrence; the West Coast debut of Reggie Workman’s RW WORKz with James Carter; and nightly Col-trane tributes from top Portland per-formers.

Many of the region’s renowned musi-cians are scheduled for tribute shows throughout the festival. Portland gui-tarist Dan Balmer will pay homage to Coltrane’s collaborations with guitar-ists Kenny Burrell and Wes Montgom-ery in programs West Coast Blues, un-der the leadership of Portland drum-mer Mel Brown, and Freight Trane.

Portland drummer Alan Jones will ex-plore Coltrane’s association with Elvin Jones around a project titled Puttin’ It Together, featuring Sonny Fortune and Azar Lawrence.

The closing night of the celebration, three contemporary saxophonists join together in The Saxophone Summit Supreme to play final odes to Col-trane, channeling the spirit of the ear-ly 2000s group Saxophone Summit. The collective includes Jimmy Greene, Devin Phillips, and JD Allen, with backing piano by Orrin Evans.

This year’s festival will also boast its second an-nual Jazz Forward youth competitions as part of its scholarship program. Two additional events have been added this year for college under-graduate instrumental-ists and vocalists, with winners of any of the seven total categories re-ceiving cash prizes and main stage exposure.

PDX Jazz, a non-profit cultural arts organiza-tion, co-presents the 11-day festival with local audio systems company Biamp. Co-founded in

2004 with Travel Portland, the an-nual event aims to establish a cultural tourism initiative in the metro Port-land area, and celebrate Black History Month through outreach in regional middle schools. As an extension of its festival outreach and to celebrate In-ternational Jazz Day, PDX Jazz will host a free public program on April 30.

Tickets, full schedule, and more in-formation available at pdxjazz.com or 503-228-5299.

– Halynn Blanchard

rAvi ColtrAne Photo by deborAh feinGold


PreVieW >>Earshot Jazz February Series

ches Smith, mat maneri, craig taborn Tuesday, February 16, 8pm PONCHO Concert Hall

Ches Smith, one of the most excit-ing drummer/composers on the fertile Brooklyn jazz scene appears here with veterans of the jazz vanguard (and his ECM release The Bell), Craig Taborn (piano) and Mat Maneri (viola).

What started as a one-off gig turned into a collaboration that “re-ally clicked,” according to Smith. “It worked so well that it felt like I had to continue with it.”

The collaboration of Smith, Taborn, and Maneri drew positive critical reac-tions even early on. After the trio’s ap-pearance at the 2014 Winter Jazzfest, Chicago Reader’s Peter Margasak said, “The best thing I caught all weekend was a superb trio led by drummer Ches Smith with pianist Craig Taborn and violist Mat Maneri, which expert-ly infused seductively draggy, narcotic writing with a mixture of brooding melody and rich texture. The band had sheet music, but it seemed to offer a loose road map rather than a strict score.”

The fruit of this collaboration is the album The Bell, out now on ECM Re-cords. The title song is one of the very first pieces Smith wrote for the new group, and it’s almost a blueprint for what follows on this album of cham-ber music for master improvisers of wide experience.

Smith began playing in grunge, punk, and metal bands before explor-ing jazz and free improvisation, al-though he counts Thelonious Monk

amongst his earliest influences. At Oakland’s Mills College, he studied with Pauline Oliveros, Alvin Curran, Fred Frith, and William Winant. He’s since worked with musicians from Wadada Leo Smith to Tim Berne and Mary Halvorson. The Bell is his first ECM release as bandleader.

Violist Mat Maneri has been record-ing for ECM for 20 years, starting with Three Men Walking in 1995 with his father, the late saxophonist/clarinetist Joe Maneri, and guitarist Joe Morris, and most recently Transylvanian Con-cert with pianist Lucian Ban. Having studied with Juilliard String Quartet founder Robert Koff, Maneri’s impro-visations are informed and grounded by his knowledge of contemporary and classical composition, as well as the jazz tradition.

Craig Taborn made his ECM de-but as a member of Roscoe Mitchell’s

“Note Factory” on Nine to Get Ready in 1997, and has since recorded for the label with Evan Parker, Michael For-manek, Chris Potter, and David Torn. Outside of a few gigs, Taborn hadn’t played much with Smith before the formation of this trio, but the value of the collaboration is evident in every moment of The Bell.

The Ches Smith, Craig Taborn, and Mat Maneri trio follow their record release with appearances in Portugal, Austria, Denmark, Norway, and Swe-den, before undertaking an extensive North American tour in February.

Gary Peacock trio Saturday, February 20, 8pm Seattle Art Museum

A true legend of modern jazz, seldom seen outside of his work with Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock returns to Se-attle with his sparkling trio of Marc

Ches smith, mAt mAneri, CrAiG tAborn Photo by PAolo soriAni


Copland, piano, and the great Joey Baron on drums.

The senior statesman Peacock has traveled far and wide in the realms of jazz, playing key roles in some of the art form’s most meditative as well as the most daring explorations. Early on he played with West Coast stars like Art Pepper, then accompanied Miles Davis, but also found his way into the soaring, sometimes torrid experimen-tation of Albert Ayler. He also worked with great innovators like Jimmy Gi-uffre, Bill Evans, Roland Kirk, George Russell, Tony Williams, and Paul Bley.

Peacock has always been known as a player of rare ability in the most heady of jazz, but also the most heartfelt. He expanded his abilities not only tech-nically but aesthetically, hearing his way on the bandstands and off into idiosyncratic resonances. In Japan, he studied eastern religions and medi-cine; in Seattle, in the early 1970s, he studied biology at the University of Washington. By then, he was ready to begin his long association with pia-nist Keith Jarrett and drummer Jack DeJohnette; it occurred on Peacock’s ECM debut Tales of Another, in 1977. Peacock then spent four years in Se-attle teaching at Cornish College of the Arts until 1983 when ECM guru Manfred Eicher asked Jarrett, DeJoh-

nette, and Peacock to come together formally as the Standards Trio, which for 25 years would transcendently de-fine the jazz trio.

Since 2000, in the Standards Trio’s last decade, Peacock began a string of other stellar associations – with Bley, drummer Paul Motian, pianist Mari-lyn Crispell, saxophonist Lee Konitz, guitarist Bill Frisell, and others – and then formed in 2015 the Gary Peacock Trio that performs this month in Se-attle. It sees him join forces with two earlier colleagues: drummer Joey Bar-on, with whom he, Konitz, and Frisell

recorded Enfants Terribles: Live at the Blue Note, in 2012; and pianist Marc Copland, whom he has often accom-panied in recent times.

The trio’s Now This appeared last summer, timed to the bassist’s 80th birthday, with Peacock compositions old and new as well as pieces by Baron, Copland, and Peacock’s fellow bass gi-ant and late Bill Evans accompanist, Scott LaFaro. All the pieces, Thomas Conrad wrote in making the album an Editor’s Pick in JazzTimes, are like Peacock’s solos: “spare, self-contained figures of mysterious expectancy. In

GAry PeACoCk, joey bAron, mArC CoPlAnd Photo by eliott PeACoCk


his haunting high bass lines, melodies linger, resolve, and disappear.”

Conrad had high praise for Copland, calling him “the right pianist for an al-bum about atmosphere and mood. But his quietude is deceptive. His scattered fragments and his counterintuitive chords create continuous subtle diver-sions. Baron is also subtle and provoc-ative, and essential as a colorist.”

In the Sydney Morning-Herald, John Shand said Peacock’s playing “has lost none of its vigour or sinuousness,” while his accompanists “share Pea-cock’s delight in chiselling the sharp edges off the compositions and dis-guising the lines between composition and improvisation.…Streams of melo-dy emerge from nowhere and evapo-rate just as unexpectedly.”

Don’t be out of earshot for all that.– Peter Monaghan

Brian Blade fellowship Band Friday, February 26, 8pm Seattle Art Museum

Seventeen years into its existence, drummer Brian Blade’s Fellowship Band possesses full assurance as it ex-plores a quietly edgy style of jazz.

Tuneful, stylish, and imaginative, the unit takes its lead from one of the

most solid percussionists in the busi-ness, and one who is keenly attentive both to what his bandmates are doing, and to what his compositions call for.

A spirit of collective undertaking es-tablishes the “fellowship” of the band’s name. Pianist Jon Cowherd, Myron Walden on alto saxophone and bass clarinet, Melvin Butler on soprano and tenor saxophones, and Chris Thomas, on bass, all respond in kind, and the result is a stylistic cohesion that makes for riveting listening.

That quality was evident on the band’s 2014, Grammy-nominated release, Landmarks, which was its fourth, and a return to the Blue Note label which had issued the Fellowship Band’s self-titled 1998 debut as well as Perceptual, in 2000.

In a review of Landmarks in Jazz-Times, Geoffrey Himes suggested that Blade’s evident humility – “you don’t even hear his drums until more than two minutes into the second track, and they don’t take the foreground until the beginning of the sixth track” – is in keeping with his long tenure in the band of a similarly self-effacing leader, Wayne Shorter.

It was, Heim wrote, “a testament to Blade’s leadership that his fellow mu-

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sicians rein in their considerable tech-nical facility” to boost the emotional depth of the band’s pieces. “This is not,” Heim wrote, “an album of young musicians trying to prove how many notes and changes they can play with-in eight bars; this is a session devoted to milking all the emotion lurking in the hymn-like melodies and wistful tempos.”

The music of Landmarks was a special instance of the harmony of the Fellow-ship Band’s repertoire: as the album’s name suggested, the project took in-spiration from a sense of place, Shreve-port, Louisiana, where Blade grew up, and the album was recorded. Blade told DownBeat that he deployed a mix of through-composition, poetic short pieces, and long “landscapes” to cre-ate a sense of travel about a location. “I like the journey aspect of Landmarks” – the “trip” that the tunes created.

He also emphasized his pleasure in taking that trip with such able band-mates: “I try to write what I have dis-covered and realized with as much clarity as possible, while thinking of the band. When they play it, all this rhythm, melody, and harmony be-comes alive, and other ideas reveal themselves.”

On Landmarks, the sojourning was marked by the forms of music that have resonated during the history of the region around Shreveport, where the drummer was born, in 1970 – rich vernaculars of jazz, gospel, blues, and rhythm-and-blues that have generated rich, fresh vernaculars distinctive to the region.

Blade was raised in Shreveport, too – on gospel at the Baptist Church his father led for half a century. At first, he played violin, but switched to drums in middle school. After surveying the classics of jazz modernism, at 18 he moved to New Orleans for studies in the clubs of the music-drenched city.

Five years in the fertile Crescent City set Blade up not only to lead his Fel-

lowship Band, which he formed at 27, but also to be a first-call drummer for a host of leaders in various genres. His credits include not only Wayne Shorter’s quartet, since 2000, but also partnerships with jazz greats like Her-bie Hancock, Ellis Marsalis, Wolfgang Muthspiel, Marc Johnson, and Bill Frisell, as well as singers as distinctive and varied as Bob Dylan, Joni Mitch-ell, Marianne Faithfull, and Emmylou Harris. In 2009, Blade even joined the singer-songwriter ranks, himself, with his album Mama Rose.

– PM

W E E K D A Y S

Listen onl inewww.kbcs . fm

C A R AVA N

M U S I C + I D E A S

D E M O C R AC Y N OW !

H A R D K N O C K R A D I O

9am

noon

3pm

5pm

6pm

g l o b a l b e a t s

g l o b a l b e a t s /n ews f e a t u re s

p ro g re ss i ve n ews

u r b a n c u l t u re

T H O M H A R T M A N NP R O G R A Mp ro g re ss i ve t a l k

Earshot Jazz February series

Earshot Jazz members & Seniors (60+) receive $2 off general admission.

Full-time students & Active Military/Veterans (with ID) receive 50% off admission.

For tickets and more informa-tion, visit earshot.org or call the Earshot Jazz office at (206) 547-6763.


By Jean Mishler

Only windows framed with festive lights indicate anything special about the single-story building off of 15th Ave NE on 177th in Shoreline. But upon entering, the North City Bis-tro & Wine Shop promises to satisfy almost all the senses. After purchas-ing the venue two years ago, Ray and Sharon Bloom have been hard at work satisfying their mission of providing “a venue for the community but also for the musicians” and a “place where peo-ple can bring their families and hear quality music.” They offer a space for a host of talent from the Northwest and beyond, fostering a commitment to encouraging young talent along with seasoned veterans. An all-ages club, they make it one of their goals to offer opportunities for young musicians to play and younger listeners to appreci-ate.

At arrival, patrons take in the Euro-pean-style decor, with the wine library (400+ varieties) like stacks, lining the walls at the front of the house by the band. There’s also a cozy little bar near the front, and, back by the kitchen, tall bistro tables where customers can get a view of the band, listen to the music, or engage in conversation – whatever their inclination.

While the atmosphere pleases the eye, head chef Bernice Vazquez with kitchen staff Paul Herrin and Johnny Damian tempt patrons with all the aromas of their Mediterranean menu. Distracting smells like the sweet spici-ness of the ricotta doughnuts with car-damom that jazz singer and customer Amy Kramer Hawks enjoys, or per-

fectly prepared scallops with herbed potatoes and carrots, waft from all sides to please noses and, eventually, taste buds.

In addition to its expansive wine of-ferings, North City Bistro also pos-sesses a hand-selected collection of spirits, the only available for miles in the city of Shoreline. And it’s a gener-ous pour. “This is the best thing about the martinis here,” local jazz singer and customer Jacqueline Tabor de-clared, tapping the glass three times with her glittering nail, “the leftovers. It’s just like love.”

Perhaps most importantly, however, is North City Bistro’s generous sup-port of music, both the makers and the audiences. There’s the real sacrifice of keeping a local venue going: staff-ing enough labor to make sure service is strong and patrons are comfortable, but not so much labor for cost overruns, is a constant challenge and involves its own art of crystal ball-gazing. There’s

also the obvious caring touches: serv-ing as an emcee to Nancy Erickson’s recent CD release party, owner Ray Bloom introduced her to the sold-out crowd himself. And there’s the not-so-obvious: their generous free drink and entree offerings for performing musi-cians is not usual in the business, but is much appreciated by the players. But that’s just what they do – dish out dis-plays of love five days a week, 51 weeks a year (they’re closed the first week of January), to the local community.

Ray and Sharon Bloom opened the club just over two years ago, on Janu-ary 8, 2014. Neither were strangers to business, Sharon having worked years in house cleaning and Ray hav-ing years of experience at various busi-nesses, working for Yamaha, opening a pro audio store in Portland, and even building his own music store in Chelan, and then later, in the wine import business where the North City Bistro was one of his clients. But own-

north City bistro owners rAy And shAron bloom stAnd in front of their wine librAry. Photo by jeAn mishler.

VenUe ProfiLe

North City Bistro: A Venue for the Community


ing a club was definitely new to them. When asked why they decided to buy the club, Ray’s first response was, “In-sanity according to some....” but later he confided it encapsulated all their loves: wine, spirits, food, and music. “Music is our passion,” proclaims Sha-ron.

North City Bistro is open five nights a week for dinner, with music four to five nights a week. The bistro is also available for special events catering on Sundays and has “Wine Maker” events periodically throughout the year, where local winemakers pair their wines with a four- or five-course din-

ner, discussing the attributes of each and their contributions to the meal.

Ray and Sharon are grateful to the friends who have served as consultants as they worked to take North City Bistro to the next level as a club, and say they feel blessed by all the people who have helped them and all the friends they have met, both musicians and patrons. Musicians love how they are treated, as do the customers. The couple was also happy to discover how much they “love being together and working together” over these last two years of their joint endeavor. Their big-gest surprise? “We were shocked at the

quality of musicians,” Ray says. “It has been amazing.” Aero, their 14-year-old Karelian Bear Dog, lounging at the entrance, lifted her head. In her well-used bed, North City Bistro’s canine host didn’t have much to add; she just lay there, happy to absorb the vibe.

North City Bistro

1520 NE 177th StShoreline, WA 98155northcitybistro.com, (206) 365-4447Call early for reservations.


Nancy Erickson

While Strolling Through the Park

self-releasedNancy Erickson’s newest solo album

While Strolling Through The Park is a springy celebration of love songs. Opening with a heartfelt original “New Year’s Eve,” Erickson’s warm and inviting tone promenades over pianist Darin Clendenin’s saunter-ing chords for an honest approach to a wonderful tune. The title track fea-tures David Marriott contributing a bouncy solo atop the happy mean-dering of Clendenin, drummer Ken French, and bassist Clipper Anderson. Another standout “Perdido,” featur-ing Jay Thomas on the flute and Jeff Busch on percussion, makes you feel like packing a bag and heading south for a sweet siesta. “Prelude to a Kiss” is perhaps my favorite track on the al-bum, beautifully juxtaposing the up-beat songs with heart-wrenching vocal execution and skillful piano playing. “The Whippoorwill Song,” another of Erickson’s original compositions,

sounds like a soulful acoustic jam on a Morcheeba song, with Alexey Niko-laev’s saxophone musings.

And have you see the album art?!– Edan Krolewicz

raymond Larsen

New Studies of the Starry Skies

table & Chairs“What becomes of the flood of heat

and light that has gone on at the rate of 180,000 miles a second since the dawn of creation?” – Modern Achievements in Science, Invention, Commerce and History (1903).

It is this encyclopedia that inspired trumpeter Larsen to create his “Modern Achievements” trilogy, and New Studies of the Starry Skies is the second in the series. – Ed.

Swirling nebulas, endless universes, and shooting stars surround us.

A lonely planet drifts slowly through the cosmos. Thousands Upon Millions of planets floating along uncertain trajectories. Each star a sun, each ex-panding universe a prescient warning, an omen, perhaps a sign of our insig-nificance. Equal parts wonder and ex-istential gloom. These are sounds that capture the enormity of our sphere of existence. The Size of the Whole Uni-verse.

What does it mean to occupy this space and time? How can we better understand our place in the universe? How does the grandeur change our sense of importance? How often do

we appreciate our own Sun? Our su-preme creator, our essence and primor-dial foundation, without which there would be no life.

Larsen leads us on A Path Through the Heavens. His compositions con-jure feelings of celestial loneliness. Forces Are at Work. The sun, the stars, and their motion the fountainhead of physical phenomena like gravity, electricity, cosmic radiation, and the thermodynamic properties of air and water. Film-Like Threads. The atonal-ity, the seemingly chaotic nature of space. A Marvelous Shower of Meteors. The delicately descending lines falling like stars. The sounds a plea for hu-mankind to be bold. We should not fear the endless skies, but embrace the uncertainty and encourage our innate capacity for exploration. And then, an ominous premonition. The drums roar, and the skies build as we observe the final ceremonious curtain call for our planet and solar system. The shad-ows slowly cast themselves over our sun, a permanent darkness shrouds our planet, and yet a tiny glimmer of hope. The space crafts emerge, flying off of earth, in search of new lands.

– EK

for the recorD

Choice Recent, Local Releases


Ask a Jazz Musicianwith Tarik Abouzied

hUmor

Dear Tarik,I’m struggling. My peers are enjoying lives that are progressing while I’m stuck with the me-

diocre existence I’ve lived for years. Their careers and relationships are flourishing while I linger in a dead-end job, forever single. I want to be supportive but it’s hard to be happy for them when I have nothing to be proud of, and I get depressed when I compare my life with theirs. No matter what I try, the self-doubt is getting worse. What do I do?

– Down and OutDear Down,Your situation may seem bleak and inescapable but I think I can help. Peer-envy, self-

doubt, and depression are common byproducts of jazz performance and, as such, we jazz musicians have developed methods to cope with these feelings that can be applied almost universally. Next time you feel hooked by self-destructive thoughts, try one or more of these handy jazz tricks:

Diversional Reference: If a peer shares good news, quickly interrupt with a reference to something that happened before 1977. The older and more obscure the reference, the more the conversation will divert from your friend’s accomplishments to how smart you are. Example: “Google acquired your startup? Kind of reminds me how EMI acquired Chick Corea’s record from ’68, Now He Sings, Now He Sobs, and reis-sued it with bonus tracks. You haven’t heard those tracks? You gotta hear them. So good.”

Dismissive Criticism: If your sense of value is threatened by the success of another, take one characteristic of their story that isn’t congruent with yours, attribute their success to that characteristic, and attack it mercilessly until their entire life appears to be a sham. Example: “You know, ___ inherited money from his/her parents, without that we’d be in the same spot. Roy Haynes never got a windfall like that, he got to where he is on his own. Have you heard him on that track “Matrix” from Now He Sings, Now He Sobs? You gotta hear it. So good.”

Listen to Now He Sings, Now He Sobs: I don’t know, I just really like that record. It’s so good.

Tarik Abouzied is a hard-hitting, Seattle-based drummer, who brings the heat both on and offstage.Send your questions or comments to [email protected] or [email protected].


Calendar Key

Jazz aroUnD the SoUnDFebruary 2

AB Angry Beaver, 8412 Greenwood Ave N, 782-6044

AH Art House, 420 Franklin St SE, Olympia, 360-943-3377

AN Anchor Pub & Restaurant, 1001 Hewitt Ave, Everett, 425-374-2580

BB Billy Baroo’s at Foster Golf, 13500 Interurban Ave S, Tukwila, 588-2763

BC Barca, 1510 11th Ave E, 325-8263BD Bad Albert’s, 5100 Ballard Ave NW, 782-9623BH Benaroya Hall, 200 University St, 215-4747BL Blue Heron Art Center, 19704 Vashon Hwy SW,

Vashon, 463-5131BP Bake’s Place, 155 108th Ave NE, Bellevue,

425-391-3335BS B Sharp Coffee House, 706 Opera Alley,

Tacoma, 253-292-9969BT Brass Tacks, 6031 Airport Way S, 397-3821BX Boxley’s, 101 W North Bend Way, North Bend,

425-292-9307CB Century Ballroom, 915 E Pine St, 324-7263CC Capitol Cider, 818 E Pike St, 397-3564CH Chapel Performance Space, Good Shepherd

Center, 4649 Sunnyside Ave N, 4th FloorCL Cypress Lounge & Wine Bar, 600 Bellevue Way

NE, Bellevue, 425-638-1000CM Crossroads Bellevue, 15600 NE 8th St,

Bellevue, 425-644-1111CR Cafe Racer, 5828 Roosevelt Way NE, 523-5282CS Cafe Solstice, 4116 University Wy NE, 675-

0850

CY Conor Byrne Pub, 5140 Ballard Ave NW, 784-3640

CZ Couth Buzzard Books, 8310 Greenwood Ave N, 436-2960

DT Darrell’s Tavern, 18041 Aurora Ave N, Shoreline, 542-2789

ED Edmonds Center for the Arts, 410 4th Ave N, Edmonds, 425-275-9595

EM Easy Monkey Taphouse, 17537 15th Ave NE, 420-1326

FB Seattle First Baptist Church, 1111 Harvard Ave, 325-6051

GA Gallery 1412, 1412 18th Ave, 322-1513GD Grumpy D’s Coffee House, 7001 15th Ave NW,

783-4039GZ Grazie Canyon Park, 23207 Bothell-Everett Hwy,

Bothell, (425) 402-9600JA Jazz Alley, 2033 6th Ave, 441-9729JV JazzVox House Concert, jazzvox.comKA Kakao, 415 Westlake Ave NKC Kirkland Performance Center, 350 Kirkland Ave,

425-828-0422LA Latona Pub, 6423 Latona Ave NE, 525-2238MC Marcela’s Creole Cookery, 106 James St, 223-

0042MQ Musicquarium @ Triple Door, 216 Union St,

838-4333MT Mac’s Triangle Pub, 9454 Delridge Way SW,

763-0714MV Marine View Church, 8469 Eastside Dr NE,

Tacoma, 253-229-9206

NC North City Bistro & Wine Shop, 1520 NE 177th, Shoreline, 365-4447

NL Nectar Lounge, 412 N 36th St, 632-2020OW Owl ’N Thistle, 808 Post Ave, 621-7777PD Pink Door, 1919 Post Alley, 443-3241PH Panama Hotel, 605 1/2 Main St, 515-4000PO PONCHO Concert Hall, Kerry Hall, 710 E Roy StQA Queen Anne Beerhall, 203 W Thomas St, 659-

4043RO The Rollin Log, 50 E Sunset Wy, Issaquah, 425-

392-2964RR The Royal Room, 5000 Rainier Ave S, 906-

9920SB Seamonster Lounge, 2202 N 45th St, 633-

1824SE Seattle Art Museum, 1300 1st Ave, 654-3100SF Serafina, 2043 Eastlake Ave E, 206-323-0807SH Shuga Jazz Bistro, 317 Main Ave. S, Renton,

274-3074SY Salty’s on Alki, 1936 Harbor Ave SW, 526-1188TB Tutta Bella Neapolitan Pizzeria, 4411 Stone

Way N, 633-3800TD Triple Door, 216 Union St, 838-4333TU Tula’s, 2214 2nd Ave, 443-4221VI Vito’s, 927 9th Ave, 682-2695WW Waving Tree Winery, 11901 124th Ave NE,

Kirkland, 425-820-0102

FEBruarY 1CC Jam Sessions Mondays with Entremundos,

9:30pmCS IMP First Monday Showcase, 7pmMT Triangle Pub jam, 8:30pmNL Mo’ Jam Mondays, 9pmRR RR Collective Music Ensemble, 7:30pmRR The Salute Sessions (Salute to The Duke),

10pmSB Hot Rod, 8pmTD Ladysmith Black Mambazo, 7pmTU Tim Carson Quartet, 7:30pm

FEBruarY 2BP Gotz Lowe Duo, 6pmCB West Coast Swing Social, 9pmJA Aurelio Martinez, 7:30pmKA Live Jazz, 7pmMQ 200 Trio, 8pmNC Sing Low Indigo, 7pmOW Jam w/ Eric Verlinde, 10pmPM Paul Richardson, 6pmPO Master Class: Stuart Dempster, 1pmRR Delvon Lamarr Trio, 10pmSB Joe Doria Presents, 10pmTU Jay Thomas Big Band, 8pm

FEBruarY 3BP Gotz Lowe Duo, 6pmCY Happy Orchestra Small Groups, 9pmJA Aurelio Martinez, 8pmMQ Sundae + Mr. Goessl, 8:30pmNC Jazz Jam w/Darin Clendenin Trio, 7:30pmPD Casey MacGill, 8pmPM Paul Richardson, 6pmRR The Royal We, 10pmSB Adrian Xavier, 10pmSF Tim Kennedy Duo, 8pmTU Smith Staelens Big Band/Sammamish High

School, 7pmVI Mike Owcharuk Trio, 6pm

FEBruarY 4BC Adam Kessler & Phil Sparks, 9pmBD Annie Eastwood, Larry Hill, Tom Brighton with

special guest Beth Wulff, 5:30pmBP Javier Anderson, 6pmBT Live Jazz Trio, 6pmBX Columbia Basin College Jazz Ensemble,

7:30pmCH 31st Seattle Improvised Music Festival, 8pmJA Mark Hummel’s 25th Annual Blues

Harmonica Blowout ft. Curtis Salgado, Charlie Musslewhite, Little Charlie, Jason Ricci, Anson Funderburgh, Aki Kumar, and others, 7:30pm

MQ The Workshop, 9pmNC Majii Jazz, 7pmPD Greg Ruby & Maggie Kim, 8pmPM Paul Richardson, 6pmRR Hereward/ Verifyhuman, 8pmSB Marmalade, 10pmTD Dave Weckl Acoustic Band, 7:30pmTU David Arteaga Ensemble, 7:30pmVI Casey MacGill, 5:30pmVI Tim Kennedy, 9pm

FEBruarY 5BP Javier Anderson, 6pmBP Wired Blues Band, 9pmBS Mark Elf Trio, 8pmBT Live Jazz Trio, 6pmBX Milo Petersen Trio, 7:30pmCH 31st Seattle Improvised Music Festival, 8pmCL CJQ at Bellevue Westin, 7pmJA Mark Hummel’s 25th Annual Blues


LA Latona happy hour w/ Phil Sparks, 5pmMQ Happy Hour: Birch Pereira & the Gin Joints,

5pmMQ The Scotch Tops, 9pmNC Pearl Django, 8pm


cUrtain caLL

MoNDaYCC EntreMundos jam, 9MT Triangle Pub jam, 8:30NL Mo Jam Mondays, 9RR Salute Sessions, 10SB Hot Rod, 8

tuEsDaYBP The Gotz Lowe Duo, 6pmCB West Coast Swing Social, 9OW Jam w/ Eric Verlinde, 10PM Paul Richardson, 6RR Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio, 10SB Joe Doria Presents, 10

WEDNEsDaYBP The Gotz Lowe Duo, 6pmBX Jazz Heads, 6CY Happy Orchestra, 9PD Casey MacGill, 8PM Paul Richardson, 6RR The Royal We, 10

thursDaYBC Adam Kessler & Phil Sparks, 9BD Annie Eastwood Trio, 6BP Javier Anderson, 6pmBT Live Jazz Trio, 6PD Greg Ruby & Maggie Kim, 8PM Paul Richardson, 6SB Marmalade, 10VI Casey MacGill, 5:30

FrIDaYBP Javier Anderson, 6pmBT Live Jazz Trio, 6LA Happy hour w/ Phil Sparks, 5SB Funky 2 Death, 10

saturDaYBT Live Jazz Trio, 7

suNDaYAB Beaver Sessions, 9BX Danny Kolke Trio, 6CR Racer Sessions, 8DT Darrell’s Tavern Jazz Jam, 8SH Shuga Jam Sundays w/ Eric

Verlinde, 7:30SY Victor Janusz, 10amTB Kevin Connor Swing Trio, 5:30VI Ruby Bishop, 6VI Ron Weinstein Trio, 9:30

weekly recurring performances

RR Brazilian Carnival! Ft. EntreMundos and Tudo Beleza, 8pm

SB Funky 2 Death, 10pmSF Alex Guilbert Trio, 9pmTU Joe Locke Quartet w/ Thomas Marriott, Jeff

Johnson, John Bishop, 7:30pmVI Jovino Santos Neto, 8pm

FEBruarY 6AH Dennis Hastings CD Release Concert, 8pmBB Stickshift Annie with Kimball Conant and the

Fugitives, 7pmBL Pearl Django, 7:30pmBT Live Jazz Trio, 6pmBX NY Guitar Legend Mark Elf, 7:30pmCH 31st Seattle Improvised Music Festival, 8pmCM Purple Passion Swing Band, 7pmJA Mark Hummel’s 25th Annual Blues


MQ Freudian Slurp, 9pmNC Phil Randoy Quartet, 8pmRR It’s a New Orleans Thing: A tribute to Allen

Toussaint, 8pmSB Eric Hullander Jazz Band, 8pmSB ARISAWKADORIA, 11pmSF Sue Nixon Jazz Quartet, 9pmTU Mark Taylor/Dawn Clement w/ Michael Glynn &

Julian MacDonough, 7:30pmVI Josh Rawlings Trio, 9:30pmVI Tarantellas, 6pm

FEBruarY 7AB Beaver Sessions, 9pmBX Danny Kolke Trio, 7:30pmCR Racer Sessions, 7:30pmCZ Blues Open Jam, 7pmCZ Choro Music Open Jam w/ Stuart Zobel, 2pmDT DT Jazz Jam, 8pmFB Eugenie Jones At Jazz Vespers, 6pmJA Mark Hummel’s 25th Annual Blues


MQ Happy Hour: Birch Pereira & the Gin Joints, 5pm

RR Class Got Brass NW: Youth bands from across the Puget Sound play the music of New Orleans, 5:30pm

SF Lennon Aldort, 6:30pmSF Sunday Brunch, featuring Pasquale Santos,

11amSH Shuga Jam Sundays w/ Eric Verlinde, 7:30pmSY Victor Janusz, 10amTB Kevin Connor Swing Trio, 5:30pmVI Ron Weinstein Trio, 9:30pmVI Ruby Bishop, 6pm


9:30pmJA Jon Cleary, 7:30pmMT Triangle Pub jam, 8:30pmNL Mo’ Jam Mondays, 9pmRR Father Daughter, 7:30pmRR The Salute Sessions (Salute to The Duke),

10pmSB Hot Rod, 8pmTU David Marriott Triskaidekaband, 7:30pm

FEBruarY 9BP Gotz Lowe Duo, 6pmBX Special Event Mardi Gras Parade, 7:30pmCB West Coast Swing Social, 9pmJA Loston Harris Trio, 7:30pmKA Live Jazz, 7pmMC Marc Smason & Craig Hoyer, 1:30pmMC Mardi Gras Parade, 12pmPM Paul Richardson, 6pmRR Delvon Lamarr Trio, 10pmRR Fat Tuesday: The music of The Meters plus

some New Orleans classics, 7:30pmSB Joe Doria Presents, 10pmTU Emerald City Jazz Orchestra, 8pm

FEBruarY 10BP Gots Lowe Duo, 6pmCY Happy Orchestra Small Groups, 9pmJA Loston Harris Trio, 7:30pmNC Diane & Bob, 7pmPD Casey MacGill, 8pmPM Paul Richardson, 6pmRR The Royal We, 10pm


Esperanza Spalding

Listen 9am-3pm weekdays on 88.5 FM

RR Zero-G Concerts presents: QuinTetDeJoie//Rik Wright’s Fundamental Forces//Crystal Beth & The Boom Boom Band, 7pm

TU Jim Sisko’s Bellevue College Jazz Orchestra, 7:30pm

VI Jason Goessl Group, 9pm


guitarist Bill Chism, 5:30pmBP Javier Anderson, 6pmBT Live Jazz Trio, 6pmBX Central Washington University Jazz Band I & II,

7:30pmJA Mindi Abair and The Boneshakers, 7:30pmNC Forman-Finley Band w/Cherrie Adams, 7pmPD Greg Ruby & Maggie Kim, 8pmPM Paul Richardson, 6pmRR Shontina and the Sugar Shack/ Being Lucius,

8pmSB Marmalade, 10pmSE Art of Jazz: Industrial Revelation, 5:30pm

TU Tim Kennedy Band, 7:30pmVI Casey MacGill, 5:30pmVI Jennifer Kienzle, 9pm

FEBruarY 12BH An Evening with Branford Marsalis, 8pmBP Javier Anderson, 6pmBT Live Jazz Trio, 6pmBX Scheps, Gabrielson, Williamson “Love

Supreme” (Coltrane inspired love songs), 7:30pm

CM Sound of Swing, 7pmJA Mindi Abair and The Boneshakers, 7:30pmJV Jazz Vox: Marianne Solivan w/ George Colligan,

7pmLA Latona happy hour w/ Phil Sparks, 5pmMQ Happy Hour: Ranger & the Re-Arrangers, 5pmNC John Pinetree & Brooke Lizotte, 8pmSB Funky 2 Death, 10pmSF Tim Kennedy Trio, 9pmTU Dave Peck Trio w/ Dean Johnson & Eric Eagle,

7:30pm

FEBruarY 13BT Live Jazz Trio, 6pmBX Janette West Band, 7:30pmCH The Westerlies + Robin Holcomb & Peggy Lee,

8pmCZ Lil Sara & the Night Owls, 7:30pmGA Big Crinkly Trio / James DeJoie, Doug Lilla, Jay

Weaver, 8pmJA Mindi Abair and The Boneshakers, 7:30pmJV Jazz Vox: Marianne Solivan w/ George Colligan,

7pmNC Joan Penny Sextet, 8pmPH Panama Hotel Jazz, 2pmRR En Canto, 7pmSB The New Triumph, 8pmSF Frank Clayton Trio, 9pmTU Dave Peck Trio w/ Dean Johnson & Eric Eagle,

7:30pmVI Jerry Zimmerman, 6pmVI Kareem Kandi, 9:30pmVI Mal de Fleur, 12am

FEBruarY 14AB Beaver Sessions, 9pmBX Kelley Johnson & John Hansen Valentine’s Duo,

6pmCR Racer Sessions, 7:30pmCZ Music Improv Session w/ Kenny Mandell, 7pmCZ Open Jazz Jam w/ Kenny Mandell, 2pmDT DT Jazz Jam, 8pmJA Mindi Abair and The Boneshakers – Valentine’s

Evening, 7:30pm & 9:30pmJV Jazz Vox: Marianne Solivan w/ George Colligan,

1:00 pmMC Marc Smason & Craig Hoyer, 6:30pmMV Geoffrey Castle & His All Star Band w/

Josephine Howell, 5pmRR Bring Your Own Baby (BYOB), 7pmSB Cephalopod, 10pmSF Alex Guilbert Trio, 6:30pmSH Shuga Jam Sundays w/ Eric Verlinde, 7:30pmSY Victor Janusz, 10amTB Kevin Connor Swing Trio, 5:30pmTU Greta Matassa Quartet, 8pmVI Ron Weinstein Trio, 9:30pmVI Ruby Bishop, 6pm


9:30pmMT Triangle Pub jam, 8:30pmNL Mo’ Jam Mondays, 9pmRR RR Collective Music Ensemble, 8pmRR The Salute Sessions (Salute to The Duke),

10pmSB Ari Joshua and Friends, 10pmSB Hot Rod, 8pmTU PH Factor Big Band, 7:30pm

FEBruarY 16BP Gotz Lowe Duo, 6pmCB West Coast Swing Social, 9pmJA Sonny Fortune, 7:30pmOW Jam w/ Eric Verlinde, 10pmPM Paul Richardson, 6pmPO Earshot Jazz & Cornish Presents: Ches Smith,

Mat Maneri, Craig Taborn, 8pmRR Delvon Lamarr Trio, 10pmSB Joe Doria Presents, 10pmTU Roadside Attraction, 7:30pm


FEBruarY 17BP Gotz Lowe Duo, 6pmCY Happy Orchestra Small Groups, 9pmJA Sonny Fortune, 7:30pmMQ KO Ensemble, 8:30pmNC Leah Stillwell Quartet, 7pmPD Casey MacGill, 8pmPM Paul Richardson, 6pmRR The Royal We, 10pmSB The Unsinkable Heavies, 10pmTU Kate Voss & the Big Boss Band, 7pmVI Brad Gibson Presents, 9pm


guitarist Bill Chism, 5:30pmBP Javier Anderson, 6pmBT Live Jazz Trio, 6pmBX BX Pro-Am Big Band, 7:30pmCH Wally Shoup/ Greg Campbell/ Greg Kelley, 8pmEC SRJO with Special Guest Terell Stafford,

7:30pmJA Kurt Elling, 7:30pmMQ Maracuja, 9pmPD Greg Ruby & Maggie Kim, 8pmPM Paul Richardson, 6pmRR Samantha Boshnack Quintet/ Duende, 7:30pmSB Marmalade, 10pmTU Fred Hoadley’s Sonando, 8pmVI Casey MacGill, 5:30pmVI Paul Gabrielson Trio, 9pm

FEBruarY 19BP Javier Anderson, 6pmBT Live Jazz Trio, 6pmBX “Greater Tuna” Dinner Theater by Valley Center

Stage, 7:30pmGZ Annie Eastwood with The James Bernhard

Band, 7:30pmJA Kurt Elling, 7:30pmLA Latona happy hour w/ Phil Sparks, 5pmMQ Happy Hour: Ranger & the Re-Arrangers, 5pmNC Kiki Valera e los Guajibaros, 8pmPD Birch Pereira & the Gin Joints, 9pmRR The Cumbieros, 8:30pmSB Funky 2 Death, 10pmSF Ann Reynolds & Leah Pogwidz, 9pmTU Greta Matassa Quartet, 7:30pmVI Milky’s Way, 9pm

FEBruarY 20BH SRJO with Special Guest Terell Stafford,

7:30pmBT Live Jazz Trio, 6pmBX “Greater Tuna” Dinner Theater by Valley Center

Stage, 7:30pmCZ Pint & Dale Concert, 7:30pmGD Los Buhos, 7pmJA Kurt Elling, 7:30pmNC Tupelo, 8pmRR Funky 2 Death, 9pmRR Ray Skjelberd’s Yeti Chasers, 5pmSE Earshot Jazz: Gary Peacock Trio, 8pmSF Sue Nixon Jazz Quartet, 9pmTU Susan Pascal Quartet w/ Marc Seales, Chuck

Deardorf, Mark Ivester, 7:30pmVI Julie Cascioppo, 9:30pmVI Tarantellas, 6pm

FEBruarY 21AB Beaver Sessions, 9pm

AN Bob Strickland’s Jazz Couriers Jam, 5pmBX Danny Kolke Trio, 7:30pmCC Alex Dyring Trio, 5:30pmCR Racer Sessions, 7:30pmCZ Choro Music Open Jam w/ Stuart Zobel, 2pmDT DT Jazz Jam, 8pmKC SRJO with Special Guest Terell Stafford, 2pmRR Garfield Jazz Jam, 5pmSB Tim Kennedy and Friends, 10pmSF Lennon Aldort, 6:30pmSF Sunday Brunch, feat. Pasquale Santos, 11amSH Shuga Jam Sundays w/ Eric Verlinde, 7:30pmSY Victor Janusz, 10amTB Kevin Connor Swing Trio, 5:30pmTU Jazz Underground, 3pmTU Jim Cutler Jazz Orchestra, 7pmVI Ron Weinstein Trio, 9:30pmVI Ruby Bishop, 6pm


9:30pmMT Triangle Pub jam, 8:30pm

Get Your Gigs Listed!To submit your gig information go to earshot.org/events/community/add, or e-mail us at [email protected] with details of the venue, start-time, and date. As always, the deadline for getting your listing in print is the 15th of the previous month. The online calendar is maintained throughout the month, so if you are playing in the Seattle metro area, let us know!


NL Mo’ Jam Mondays, 9pmRR John Raymond’s “Real Feels” / Jason Goessl

Trio, 7:30pmRR The Salute Sessions (Salute to The Duke),

10pmSB Hot Rod, 8pmSB Rippin Chicken, 10pmTU Charlie Potter Quartet, 7:30pm

FEBruarY 23BP Gotz Lowe Duo, 6pmCB West Coast Swing Social, 9pmJA Pat Martino Trio, 7:30pmNC Frenchy Toast, 7pmOW Jam w/ Eric Verlinde, 10pmPM Paul Richardson, 6pmRR Delvon Lamarr Trio, 10pmSB Joe Doria Presents, 10pmTU Frank Kohl Trio, 7:30pm

FEBruarY 24AH The I 5 All Stars – Rob Scheps, Charlie Porter,

Steve Bentley, Nicole Glover, 8pm

CC CC Unplugged featuring How Short, 8pmCY Happy Orchestra Small Groups, 9pmJA Pat Martino Trio, 7:30pmMQ Lady Delilah Beaucoup & Bissou, 8:30pmNC Tom Melancon, 7pmPD Casey MacGill, 8pmPM Paul Richardson, 6pmRR Jovino Santos Neto and Paul Taub: Brazilian

Duets for Piano and Flute, 7:30pmRR The Royal We, 10pmSB Westsound Deep Funk Club, 10pmTU Lloyd Chisholm Quintet, 7:30pmVI Wally Shoup, 9pm


guitarist Bill Chism, 5:30pmBP Javier Anderson, 6pmBT Live Jazz Trio, 6pmCM Sundae + Mr. Goessl, 6:30pmJA Elvin Bishop, 7:30pmMQ Jazzukha, 9pm

NC Homestretch Bluegrass, 7pmPD Greg Ruby & Maggie Kim, 8pmPM Paul Richardson, 6pmQA The Chicago 7, 6:30pmSB Marmalade, 10pmTU Clave Gringa, 7:30pmVI Casey MacGill, 5:30pm

FEBruarY 26BT Live Jazz Trio, 6pmBX Mentor Band, 6pmJA Elvin Bishop, 7:30pmLA Latona happy hour w/ Phil Sparks, 5pmMQ Happy Hour: Ranger & the Re-Arrangers, 5pmNC Hopscotch w/Guest David Arteaga, 8pmRO Comfort Food, 9pmSB Funky 2 Death, 10pmSE Earshot Jazz: Brian Blade Fellowship Band,

8pmSF Tim Kennedy Duo, 9pmTU Stephanie Porter Quintet, 7:30pmVI Lushy, 9pm

FEBruarY 27BP Darelle Holden, 8pmBT Live Jazz Trio, 6pmBX Paul Green Band, 7:30pmCH Nineteen Crimes/Janet Feder/Chris Icasiano,

8pmEM Stickshift Annie with Kimball Conant and the

Fugitives, 8pmJA Elvin Bishop, 7:30pmSB Tetrabox, 10pmSF Frank Clayton Trio, 9pmTU Tom Collier Quartet, 7:30pmVI Breaks and Swells, 9:30pmVI Jerry Zimmerman, 6pmWW Jazz Unlimited/4th Saturday Jazz Gig, 7:30pm

FEBruarY 28AB Beaver Sessions, 9pmBX Danny Kolke Trio, 6pmBX Instrumental Jam, 7:30pmCC Forman-Finley Band w/Cherrie Adams, 5:30pmCR Racer Sessions, 7:30pmCZ Northern Tunes Jam, 6pmCZ Open Jazz Jam w/ Kenny Mandell, 2pmDT DT Jazz Jam, 8pmJA Elvin Bishop, 7:30pmRR Chava Mirel “Make The Two Sides Meet” Album

Release and Birthday Party, 2pmSF Sunday Brunch, featuring Alex Guilbert Duo,

11amSF Tim Kennedy Duo, 6:30pmSH Shuga Jam Sundays w/ Eric Verlinde, 7:30pmSY Victor Janusz, 10amTB Kevin Connor Swing Trio, 5:30pmTU Jim Cutler Jazz Orchestra, 7pmVI Ron Weinstein Trio, 9:30pmVI Ruby Bishop, 6pm


9:30pmMT Triangle Pub jam, 8:30pmNL Mo’ Jam Mondays, 9pmSB Hot Rod, 8pmTU Peter Daniel Presents 45th St Brass, 7:30pm


to raise $7 million by June 30, 2016. To date, the campaign has raised over $770,000. Visit kplu.org/save-kplu to learn more information or to make your pledge today.

Jazz radio88.5 KPLU hosts Saturday Jazz

Matinee, Jazz Sunday Side Up, Ken Wiley’s the Art of Jazz, and Jazz Northwest, in addition to its weekday NPR and late-night and prime-time jazz programs. For KPLU’s full jazz schedule, see kplu.org/schedule.

Jim Wilke’s Jazz Northwest, Sun-days, 2pm, features the artists and events of the regional jazz scene. For JazzNW podcasts of archived pro-grams, see jazznw.org.

90.3 KEXP, late-night Sundays, features Jazz Theater with John Gil-breath, 1am, and Sonarchy, midnight, a live-performance broadcast from the Jack Straw Productions studio, pro-duced by Doug Haire. Full schedule information is available at kexp.org and jackstraw.org.

Sonarchy’s Februray schedule: Feb-ruary 7, The Daphnes, new chamber-pop compositions featuring Monica Schley (harp, vocals), Julie Baldridge (violin), and Nate Omdal (bass); Feb-

ruary 14, Focus on Sanity, Ornette Coleman tribute band with Don Ber-man and Steve Cavit (drums), Ken Masters and Dennis Rea (guitar), John Seman and Ryan Berg (bass), Matt McCluskey (keys), James DeJoie (sax) and Jim Knodle (trumpet); February 21, Carl Lierman explores textures, tones, and mass with analog electron-ics (modular synthesizer) and heav-ily layered and processed recordings and digital sound sources; February 28, Istvan & Farko, a unique flamen-co sound influenced by world, funk, and jazz, with Istvan Rez (nylon-string guitar), Farko Dosumov (electric bass), and Anil Prasad (tabla).

91.3 KBCS, late Sundays and prime-time Mondays, features Floatation De-vice with John Seman and Jonathan Lawson; Straight, No Chaser with David Utevsky; Giant Steps with John Pai. A rotation of programmers Gor-don Todd, John Midgley, and Megan Sullivan host “The Sound of Modern Jazz,” Mondays at 7pm. More about jazz on KBCS at kbcs.fm.

94.9 KUOW, Saturdays, 7pm, fea-tures Amanda Wilde’s the Swing Years and Beyond, popular music from the 1920s to the 1950s. More at kuow.org/swing_years.php.

ing awards range up to $10,000. Learn more about Seattle Office of Arts and Culture efforts to put the arts back in education for all students in Seattle Public Schools, at www.seattle.gov/arts. Submission deadline is February 11.

SWoJo Seeking musical Director

Seattle Women’s Jazz Orchestra (SWOJO) is seeking an experienced musical director with a passion for the large jazz ensemble to lead the artis-tic development of the ensemble and

support the musical development of its members. The Musical Director is a contract position. The application pe-riod is open through February 29. For more information on the position, its requirements, and how to apply, visit swojo.org.

4culture Project GrantsThe deadlines to apply for a 4Culture

Project grant in Arts, Heritage, and Preservation have been set. Grants are available to artists and art groups, re-siding in King County, who are creat-ing and presenting work in dance, the-ater, music, media, literature and the visual arts. The Arts Projects deadline

for individuals and groups is March 9. More at 4culture.org.

on the horizon Ahamefule J. Oluo – Now I’m FineSaturday, April 2 The Moore Theatre

Local star comedian, musician, and storyteller Ahamefule J. Oluo brings all the gifts in his bones and then some to bring to life this critically acclaimed experimental pop opera about keeping it together when everything wants to fall apart. Purchase tickets at stgpre-sents.org/groups/earshot, and STG will give a donation to Earshot Jazz.

In One Ear, from page 3

Notes, from page 3

IN THIS ISSUE...

Cover: stuArt demPster Photo by dAniel sheehAn

Letter from the Director: as Goes New York...so Goes Jazz _________________________ 2

Notes _______________________________ 3

In one Ear ___________________________ 3

Profile: stuart Dempster ________________ 4

2015 Golden Ear awards Ballot __________ 6

Preview: srJo Welcomes terell stafford ___ 7

Preview: PDX Jazz Festival 2016 _________ 8

Preview: Earshot Jazz February series ___ 10

Venue Profile: North City Bistro _________ 14

For the record: Choice recent, Local releases ___________________________ 16

humor: ask a Jazz Musician ___________ 17

Jazz around the sound ________________ 18

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